Device for treating fractures of the neck of the femur



G. M. MORRISON ApriI ZO, 1937.

DEVICE FOR TREATING FRAGTURES OF THE NECK OF THE FEMUR Filed May 19, 1956 i E T INYENTDE necessity of other immobilization.

Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES DEVICE FOR TREATING FRACTURES OF THE NECK OF THE FEMUR Gordon Monroe Morrison, San Mateo, Calif. Application May 19, 1936, Serial No. 80,499

3 Claims. (Cl. 128-'83) This invention is a device for treating fractures of the neck of the femur which permits control of the head fragment, and firm fixation and impaction of the fragments without the These fractures, which occur most commonly in elderly people, are usually treated by immobilization in plastercast, combined with some form of traction. This immobilization is conducive to pneumonia,

the traction often causes pressure sores and pressure atrophy. These factors combine to cause a high mortality in such fractures.

Numerous mechanical devices have been used to hold the fractured fragments, but none with io uniformly good results, largely because they did not control satisfar torily the distal fragment.

My invention controls the distal fragment, secures impaction, and maintains reduction by virtue of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my device with a portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation. showing the transverse members in locked position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, showing the transverse members in withdrawal position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, showing the transverse members in the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the neck of the femur with my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view, showing the manner in which the transverse members are locked into anchoring position; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 1.

My invention consists essentially of a hollow linear member (Figs. 1-3) threaded to receive a nut (2) at one end and slotted longitudinally at the other end to contain two fiat transverse members (4) on a single axle. The hollow linear member is also threaded internally to receive an inner threaded shaft (I) which controls the rotation of the two flat transverse members at the slotted end.

These flat members are arranged to rotate on a single transverse axle through the slot and are free to rotate independently through three hundred and sixty degrees (360). The transverse members are roughly triangular in shape, except that they are rounded at the base and curved at one side so that they may be pushed out to an approximate right angle by screwing down the internal shaft. They are. sharpened on their entering edge to facilitate opening into the bony tissue.

These fiat members are notched in such a 60 manner that when in the transverse position the introduced through the shaft-of the femur into,

the head of the femur. The position of the drill andfragments is checked by X-ray. The drill is withdrawn, and the device, with its transverse rotating members folded within the linear member, is introduced in the same position as the drill. The internal shaft is then screwed down. This forces out and locks the transverse members in the cancellous bone of the head (Fig. 5). The nut on the other end is then tightened, and'the fracture is thereby immobilized and controlled. After healing, the internal shaft is unscrewed. This frees the transverse members and allows them to rotate over the end of the device, and the device may be'withdrawn..

I cla'iinz- 1. In a device of the character described, a hollow member, a slot formed in said hollow member at one end thereof, a pair of pivoted members mounted in said slot, means for moving said pivoted members beyond the margin of said hollow member, and means for locking said pivoted. members in a. transverse position.

2. In a device of the character described, a hollow member capable of being inserted in a. bone cavity, a pair of pivoted transverse members mounted in said hollow member, said pivoted members each having a sharpened edge, and means carried by said hollow member for moving said pivoted members beyond the margin of said hollow member, whereby said sharpened edges enter the bone structure beyond the confines of the bone cavity.

3. In a device of the character described, a hollow member capable of being inserted in -a. bone cavity, a pair of sharpened pivoted members carried by said hollow member, said hollow member being threaded internally, a shaft mounted within said hollow member and engaging said internal threads, the end of said shaft engaging said pivoted members to cause said pivoted members to move beyond the periphery of said hollow member, whereby said sharpened edges will engage the bone structure in which said device is positioned.

GORDON MONROE MORRISON. 

